Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-01-22

not only for himself but for others
whose expectations he may have hon
estly or dishonesty helped to raise.
The amount of the advance depends
wholly upon an issue wherein all COM
peting regions, transportation compa-
nies, and even the consumers have a
say.
Our reading of the matter is that the
companies prefer giving a large to a
small advance.
The people should, therefore, take
whatever it may be gracefully until
better arrangement can be perfected.
For among the assurances extant is
that while there will be an advance it
will amount to no more than the new
price in market will justify.
This is the sine qua non, or this region
will retire from market.
After all, what difference should it
make what motive, reason, induce
ment moved the companies to advance
wages? If we get it and profit by it,
why be solicitous about its origin, or
skeptical of its virtue? We know
the implied condemnation of the man
who gave a stone in answer to an ap-
peal for bread, but what of him, con
fessedly needy, who regards uubegged
81, n Tlo looc y,,b; oh
never looks up to see where the acorns
come from, furnishes an example which
we might profitably initiate sometimes.
This is one of the times.
And the man who has $50, $50, $40
or $50 more this time next year than
now will look back, if he remembers
this, and say the JOURNAL was right.
And that the man who placed any
so-called sentiment Of fraternity, plat
itude Of independence, or sophism of
manhood in the balance against it was
wrong.
The JOURNAL directs its utterances
most often at the heads of the people,
sometimes at their hearts, but to-day
it aims at their pockets.
THE Frostburg correspondent of the
Homecoming Recieec reports hiatus:
The notice does not state what the advance
will be; the very important part is not men
toned in the notice. To avoid a misUnder-
standing between employer and employee
the exact figures Of the advance should have
been stated.
Certainly. The last lick should be
struck first every time.
And the following concerning the
popular effect:
Miners can be heard to say they should
have the old price, G5 cents ton others say
the miners should not accept anything less
than GO or G5 cents a ton for mining Others
that it is the first time in the history fthe coal
fields that an advance was offered by the
companies in this way and there must be a
very good reason for giving the advance, and
anything short of 60 or 65 cents ton would
not be satisfactory, &c. Whatever the adj
vance may be it is safe to say, and it don't
require prophet to predict that any advance
offered that will make the price OF mining
less than so or 55 cents a ton will cause
trouble. The miners will not be satisfied
with a few cents advance as has been sug-
gested by some parties.
If the above was written by miner
he paid his craft a lean compliment.
There are few people, no doubt,
such as described, but they can be
skipped without the omission being
observed in the summing up.
1t is our Judgment that the advance,
whatever it may be. will be accepted
by the masses in u proper spirit, both
because it comes unsolicited and puts
additional dollars in the domestic
treasury. Besides, it signals the COM
ing of better feeling between operators
and men.
Hence, there will be no trouble. A
corporals guard is not able generally
to drive an army into revolt. But
if IN this case it should prove so formi-
dable, there is a certain prospect Of
losing both the advance and the cur
rent rate of 40 cents indefinitely, just
as we lost so cents for about months
in 1882, and 40 cents for about 6 weeks
last year.
Chalk that up where the Walking
Delegate can't try to rub it out.
THE day after the announcement OF
an advance of wages on the 1st of
March the following paragraph intro
duced wide but not deep editorial in
the Workman which sloshes around in
a vacuum the Courier and Reeiew have
never filled:
If the coal pool is to be a certainty, and the
operators are enabled to advance the price OF
coal to what they term paying basis, then
they ought to consider the condition of the
poor MINER who has been for years struggling
to keep his head above water at the present
rate for mining.
A kind of hindsight prophecy
mingled with childlike metaphor.
But we ought not to muzzle the OK
that treads out so little corn from so
much shuck.
n IL